A hellish flight and the US Airways letter

A letter I wrote to US Airways after a most unpleasant and hellish experience with them.

To Whom It May Concern;

I would like to direct your attention to the following flight information and customer details.

(inserted flight details)

This is our first time flying US Airways from Amsterdam International to Miami International with a quick stop over in Philadelphia. We are accustomed to change over’s and direct flights as I have family in New York and live in Amsterdam. We have traveled with several airlines and while we prefer a select few over others you were recommended with reference to value. We booked our flight several months in advance with confidence, arrived to Schiphol Airport and departed on schedule. The flight was not overly crowded so several people were able to arrange their seating according to comfort and sitting with family.

To Philadelphia was where we learned much about the lack of customer friendliness and communication in your flight attendants. As a passenger I expect to be kept up to speed as to where we are and when we land. I require to know when ascension begins as I take medication for epilepsy and migraines. In all other flights I am informed of where I am in the on board screens which show where you are as well as the miles, temperature etc. I expected this or similar to be in tune with my medication. This did not happen.

Additionally, the couple across the aisle had an infant. This child and couple was a pleasure to sit across from. During one of two serving sessions, the cart was in front of us for a period of 15 minutes or so, which was fine. A soda was ordered by the couple and they poured it into a cup which is customary. As the cart was in front of us for that 15 minute period the woman by the cart thought she would put the can in the trash attached to the cart as we both watched the attendant do. What she received in returned was shocking to say the least. In a voice that was demeaning and rude she stated; “Do not put that there and do NOT do that again.” She actually handed her the can back after she took the can out of the trash. Really peculiar.

When we took off from Philadelphia, we were de-iced before takeoff and once off the ground it was bumpy for a while. About 45 minutes into the flight our captain comes on the air to tell us we are experiencing problems and we will be landing in North Carolina to get a new plane to finish our journey. Excuse me, but where was the communication previous to this? We were told once that they might be experiencing problems. Once. Now we are told we are getting a new plane. Then we hear nothing until we are on the ground. I understand there can be problems and appreciate that they did handle it when it arose but looking at the conditions of some planes used and the fact that there should be a maintenance check before each flight, maybe this should have been seen prior. Furthermore, why can’t they communicate to us better? We are paying customers who appreciate to be updated. The captains and flight attendants are the individuals who are responsible with keeping us save so many thousands of feet in the air. The severe lack of communication is unnerving and would prevent me from flying again especially with the indifferent experienced.

Our flights on the way home were by no means as dramatic but just as indifferent. I am familiar with airlines and the consolidations, downsizing for the intentions of savings as well as profits. I have seen it with the last trip to New York taken in June of this year. None of this was experienced. We did observe definite changes however I did know my place in the air and I did feel safe as I should. It was a pleasant experience. Your service leaves much to be desired and with what I spent I assure you I expected more. Cut backs are no excuse. Please understand I am perfectly familiar with customer services and customer relations being in it myself. This will be shared as I do not feel that my friends and family deserve this form of service. Do with this as you will as I do not expect much with the service already experienced. I do thank you for your time in reading this.

Most Kindly;

Samantha Joppe

A normal parent with an extraordinary child (abnormal)

A freak of nature with horns and dragon breath.
I cannot be from you; you would not birth such a monster!
So it is settled, so simple, so clear. In an instant you have no daughter.
Do you believe you are original? Every normal parent with a monster says this.

God’s oil and passion will set to work and release my demon.
Your love was not enough and you beat and scream at those you swear are to blame.
A horrid mother. The damndest kind. God knows you have tried. I am in his hands and will be free.
Let loose these feelings, you can be like us. Every normal parent feels for their mistake.

You chase me out. You drug me up. You hope to hell I keep your dreams.
My breath is raunchy and distains you with memories too pained to speak.
Come in, get out. Come in, let us dance. Don’t step on Mother’s toes.
It’s ok the ringing will stop when she stops. Every normal parent has an ugly side.

You love me, you love me not. Roses are red, no these roses are pink.
Old clichés go on and on but I am still odd and you still hate it.
Disowning, praying and fighting are a prelude.
You have read up on your homework. You are just as other straight parents.

This freak offered you money, board and a plane;
All for you to show your face and a little love.
Excuses, lies and now it is your turn to shine up your horns and bad breath.
For once you could have tried to be different and just said you hated me. You are too busy being ordinary.

Samantha Joppe-Schmalfuss

Dreams and too much TV

There are dreams that we have, we carry them in our pockets and deep within the recesses of our heads. We are taught we can have dreams and some of these dreams are put into our heads from an early age. How else do you get the ideas that you live in the best place on earth or that you can become whatever you want when you grow up? Someone bigger than you told you so, that’s how. So. I wanted to be a librarian. Boring, I know but I liked the library. Then I wanted to be an actor and a writer. Then I wanted to be a traveler. Do you see where I am going with this? I didn’t really have a clue as to what I wanted to be. I didn’t have a sense of belonging or ‘this is the best place on earth’. I was missing that. We moved from California to New York when I was little. This was Poughkeepsie, NY. We were there for a while then to Long Island. This is the most belonged I can get. I love and adore Long Island. Then I moved to Connecticut at near nineteen. Don’t do that. Ever. If you have a decent thing, don’t blow it. At the age of 25 I finally get right and move to the Netherlands so I can be happy.

It is here I learn a lot. I cannot bring my Mrs. to America and that’s ok. It has to be, what else is there to do. I cannot sit there at the airport or immigration demanding they let me bring her in and sponsor her as my wife. Yet, with all my experiences in Long Island and in Connecticut there are some that presume to know and understand America based on dreams movies and a stay based on a scholarship or internship with perks.

‘I don’t see these things.’
‘What are you talking about? People do NOT live like that this. It’s only in television.’
‘Really, people do not lose their homes, or are poor. Food is not more expensive over there!’

If you want more I can give you more. I work in an international environment so it has gotten better. Before I started working in my current place of employment I heard some really bizarre things.

‘You’re from New York? Did you live in the city?!’ This is with their eyes lit up like Christmas trees until I said I lived on Long Island and their faced made this contorted expression of sheer panic for even asking the question.

‘Why did you leave? Surely, you can make more there!’
‘Can’t you bring your wife there? I mean the Americans have gay marriage too, don’t they?’

I have told them, Mrs. has told them. Mrs. went so far as to get into an argument with a Dutchman as she was full of it. He on the other hand was wise beyond his young little years because he was staying on New York for six months. I cannot tell you how much this pipsqueak infuriated her or me for that matter. I can hear the comments now. Just leave it alone. I suppose I could try if I could stop hearing the petty arguments and the nonsense about how the foreigner knows more than the American. Ok, that is petty, I won’t argue with how that sounds.

When you move outside your country, your comfort zone, you really begin to see things for how they are. Your home sweet home of poverty stricken Connecticut and upper middle class Long Island is seen in different shades. The rest of the country has more grey’s and blue’s. I knew America was imperfect but there were two things I was ill prepared for when moving to Holland. The first was Holland pointing out the extent of how imperfect my country was. The other was it’s people stating movie scenes about my country. We do not all have money and live in the country or the city. Some of us live in the middle and don’t have that much money damn it. People watch too much TV.

Health Care, Why is this complicated??

I wonder sometimes what is like to be there again and go through the same issues and vices again. Scares my mind to pieces; truly. They are working on passing this massive health package for millions of Americans.

I just found out my deductible for next year went up from €155 to €165. Any issues I can’t handle with my huisarts with go into that which I pay once I reach the now €165. My health insurance hasn’t informed us yet; my job sent an email to state the Dutch government raised the deductible. We confirmed with our insurance as well as the discount we were receiving in 2009. For our family package we pay just shy of €270 a month for our health and dental.

I am currently struggling with my head. I have epilepsy. Can you imagine NOT coverage when you need to take 3 pills at 3oo milligrams a day? Never mind the appointments and tests I have required and still do need. In 2001 I was having migraines and seizures. I had the above basic coverage that was actually through a company. I went to a Neurologist and was thrown some migraine pills. No tests, no nothing really. Why? He was even so nice as to tell me! We need to save on costs, therefore, in his opinion; no tests were required despite my history of seizures as an infant and a child going through puberty. This knowledge did not help nor sway him. Pills. And did they help? Not really, only to an extent.

2008 I am working at Subway when I have a seizure. This one lands me on the floor with paramedics around me and my friend and coworker taking care of me and walking me home. Without fail we go to my huisarts and ask for a referral to see a specialist. I give my history and explain why. I give him every detail myself and coworkers can remember and off to the neurologist I go, again. I gave the details; I even drew a picture of what I saw in my head. His assistant too my notes and he asked for an MRI and 2 EEG’s The MRI would show an entire scan or image of my head and the EEG’s would show the brain’s electrical activity and if there is abnormality, we will see it. This is better, yes? Well, it is at this point at the age of 28 I learn that my brain never fully developed. What?

You see, when I was a child, technology was as such that it could only tell my parents that the left side of my brain was smaller than my right and there was a scar. They were unsure as t o where this came from.  Ok, we can work with this. I am 10 or 11 at the time and cannot do anything with it anyway.

Now, we are told that this scar is not a scar but rather a space, a hole. This portion of my brain never developed, simply never came to be. Now, let us go back to 2001 when I had this above basic coverage shall we. I could have understood my head then. I could have understood the migraines then. Even better I could have been put on proper medication and treated for the seizures I was having then. Oh perish the thought!

I was reading up on Former President Clinton practically pleading the Senate to pass the bill that the House as already passed. Being in the Netherlands I have coverage that is decent and good. It is by no means perfect and people complain on a regular basis. Huisarts regularly arguing with patients on whether to refer to specialists while our deductibles’ go up every year. It doesn’t need to be perfect, it just being a start and yet there are actually people will to deny others of coverage. I remember having surgery under my health care which got pulled and I got left with a 10 thousand dollar hospital and doctor bill. Good stuff right.

So here is a thought, just a little one mind you.  Read a little about the health care systems around the world before jumping to conclusions about what they are trying to set up to benefit millions of people in America. Millions of people with affordable coverage, that’s really a bad thing!? Start here, its the Dutch system. Its in English so don’t run away.

Snoopy is Sick

Snoopy is sick. Over the weekend, Saturday, we spotted a lump on her side. My Mrs. called the vet that coming Monday and explained the situation. We could get in on Tuesday and it sounds as though it may be removable surgically. Naturally, a biopsy would be done to determine what it is and the best course of action. She is our little girl and we need to take care of her, besides her little sister would appreciate it. This lump has not hindered her behavior or movement in any fashion. Snoopy is a rat by the way and she did her normal rat things with her sister in her home. She still is.

My Mrs. is just as upset, as these little girls were originally brought home for her; she posted on Facebook regarding our little girl. Naturally, you are going to get the ‘oh no’ and ‘I hope she feels better’ comments. Insensitivity is something you really do not expect when your pet is sick. Understanding that there are people who lack appreciation and a sense for the rat as I, myself was such a person. Mrs. wanted pet rats when we moved into a bigger place. So when that day came, I surprised her with a cage in the shape of a three story home with two girls. I am a believer in compassion and knowledge. To be limited is to be ignorant, even if in regards to a rat.

As I sit and read comments explaining that surgery should NOT be done on a rat. Sorry. Further still, they went on to give a list of acceptable pets in their eyes but NOT rats. Sorry. It hurt but moreover it was insensitive and not appropriate. I suppose to each his own and one can argue they have a right to speak their mind where they see fit no matter the consequence. I was raised to take care of your pet, for good or worse no matter what kind of pet. I was also taught to be thoughtful, sincere and if you did have anything nice to say, you do not say anything. They have at least said it nicer. Mrs. does not practice this don’t say anything all if it isn’t nice notion. The Dutch are a rather forward folk. They can be nice about it however forward, blunt and if you are not used to it, rude. This is different, this is mean. Just mean. This is a box someone sits in with of their things and their world; this is what they like and what they know, all else is unacceptable and not allowed. Ignorant, bubble sitting and fearful. This not the first time we have collided with comments like this and it won’t be the last I am sure.

Snoopy is sitting in her wooden house inside her cage sleeping with her sister at the moment. If I go near the cage her sister Terri will run up the cage in search of food. We will learn more tonight. In the mean time I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for her.

I will hear you laugh

There are little trinkets throughout the house that remind me; show me that you were a part of this world. There is a prayer book alongside my bed and a picture where I brush my hair. Where I take my meal there are more pictures and your wedding movie. These things remind. Yet I cannot hear your laugh, smell your cigarette smoke and feel your boney hugs. Things cannot bring you to me, they merely remind this world you are no long of it, just once in it. I have vivid memories of you homemade dinners and toys tucked appropriately after use. The child who came to see you and the clocks that chimed hourly plague me once in a while. My bookshelves remind me of your own, though I do not allow the clowns to haunt me. All these things I see and see; I visualize and stimulate to keep you with me. A cliché so I cannot be left with guilt every year. I go to church and light a candle and hope that it will erase that guilt. One can hope. Maybe you will forgive me. Next year will be better. I will hear you laugh.

6 hours

I am six hours ahead of what seems like everything. Currently it is the World Series. There is a cable connected from the computer to our television and sound system. It is hard to be six hours ahead of America where I am asleep while a ball game is going on.

I go to work and cannot watch until after work… and not check the score. Realizing that CNN and Dutch news are covering this. FaceBook chatterboxes will ruin it for you. I have been in hiding so I can watch it via MLB.com on my televison.

Tonight is game six. It better be the last. This is hard. I hate hiding. The rest of the world brags and rants. I want to too.

I complain alot.

 

NaNoWriMo Day 1

National Novel Writing Month – Day 1 -

I woke up early and watched my NY Yankees wind game 3 8-5 and then went for an intense run in my neighborhood. I did my crunches and showered. I puttered around the house, cleaning and watching TV and computer after the wife was done fixing the computer. All before 1 pm. I had not written a word on the start of such a day as this; the day where I need to expel 1670 words from my brain.

At around 5:30 or 6pm, after the wife makes a delicious dinner, I sit down and plug at my laptop. Stare at my white keyboard. first 55 words are deleted. Yes, 55. Sad. Pitiful. I am shamed that I did not take this more seriously on the first day. I did this once before and remember the pain and agony. 55 words. I am beyond this now. 422 words at 7:14pm. This is comprehensible as well. This does make me happy. Now, if only I can keep this up for the evening and the next 30 days.

Breathing.

Day 1 continues.

The welcome post.

I have been a naughty girl and have not written in some time! All is well however. I have found a place to call home and am finding my fingers and words again.

I am Samantha and I write on what goes on in my life in the Netherlands; what goes on in America and what I think about this and how this effects me and my wife. I also travel, as an expatriate often does, and I naturally share all the juicey details! I do have opinions and share them no matter how they may clash. I can’t always please right?

However welcome to my new home! Enjoy the reading!